International Days October 2 2025 (United Nations)

The following is an overview of the days and the corresponding celebration declared by the United Nations that apply to Thursday, 2025-10-02:

• International Day of Non-Violence:

  The International Day of Non-Violence is observed every year on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. The General Assembly of the United Nations, in its resolution A/RES/61/271, aware that non-violence, tolerance, full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, democracy, development, mutual understanding and respect for diversity are interrelated and reinforce each other; and reaffirming the importance of non-violence and harboring the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding, invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate appropriately the International Day of Non-violence and spread the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.
  • Official note
  • Resolution A/RES/61/271

• Yom Kippur:

  ^[floating] 32 countries wrote a letter to a committee of the United Nations General Assembly in support of Israel’s bid to have the international body recognize Yom Kippur as an official holiday. The letter, dated June 30 2014, was sent to the General Assembly’s Committee on Conferences and stated that on Yom Kippur the Jewish people

  reflect on the events of the past year and pray that all peoples will enjoy a year of good health, peace and prosperity.

  ...the messages of Yom Kippur are universal and as such, we the representatives of the delegations listed (in the letter) are writing to request that Yom Kippur be included as an official holiday of the United Nations as from 2015.

  With the interest of respecting the diversity of United Nations staff members, resolution 62/250 designates Yom Kippur as a floating holiday. Yom Kippur, also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.
  • Resolution 69/250

Notes:

^[floating] A 'floating' holiday. An employee at the United Nations may or may not choose to take this day as a holiday. Starting in 2016, the United Nations staff will no longer have 10 official holidays. There will be nine official holidays and each employee will be able to choose one of seven floating holidays as a 10th holiday.